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that_bookworm_guy 's review for:
Felix Ever After
by Kacen Callender
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
‘I guess it must be a rush of power for you, attacking someone and making them feel like they don’t belong. But I know who I am. I know that I’m trans. Transgender people has always existed. Trans people are everywhere throughout history, even if society tries to erase us. We’re not a trend, even if it makes you feel good to pretend that we are.’
I’m glad this book exists because I have never read anything like this. It’s powerful and honest. It shows a real insight into identity. A story about love, acceptance and understanding yourself.
I’ve been wanting to read this for so long. So many books with trans characters focus on coming out, and end not long after. I want more trans characters who are already out and living life. Not to say that this is a light read, Felix deals with transphobic abuse as he is publicly dead-named and then harrassed online.
The plot overall seemed quite simple. This seemed much more character driven than plot. Some of it was over quickly and other parts just fell quite flat for me. However, the character development through out was well done.
I’m not a huge fan of romance in books and I know this is a personal preference, however I have never read a book with a love triangle in that involves a trans character. I feel like the struggles that Felix go through are honest and raw. As a trans man, I relate to Felix a lot in the way that he feels that he is unloveable due to his identity. He both wants and doesn’t want to be loved. The fear of rejection or that no one will love you because you’re trans is a very real feeling, it’s conflicting and confusing. It’s so hard to feel like someone will love you for who you are. So many romances that involve trans characters feel like they are being fetishised instead of loved. Although, I’m not a huge fan of the catfish situation but this is probably just a personal thing.
Felix as a character is flawed, and human. He isn’t perfect and I feel like some people forget that trans people are just like cis people, no one is perfect. He is quite judgemental, and he complains about the privileges that other people have, especially his friends who go to the school because they are well off. But often forgets his own privileges. He goes to a good school, and yes, him and his dad struggle with money, but for some people the opportunities that he has are impossible. His dad helped him to get on hormones and have surgery. So at 17, Felix is already on hormones and a year post top surgery. Again, this is something that most trans people dream about. Very few people can have their parent pay for their transition, and very few people transition as a teen.
He complains about his dad occasionally dead-naming him, I do understand the frustration, however it seems like he almost resents his dad for it. But again, his dad helped him with his transition so it’s not coming from his dad not accepting him. But Felix can’t seem to see this.
Felix messes up a lot throughout the book, but he is a teenager. Some of it really annoyed me, as it seemed like he had no regards to anyone else. But he is 17 so it could just come from a place of immaturity.
But don’t get me wrong, I did really like how Felix grew throughout the book and how not everything ended up exactly perfect. Some of the things that Felix thought were important to begin with, turn out to not mean so much. Is it perfect rep, no, but no single book will ever have perfect representation. To expect that from any book is impossible, because every single person and character is different.
I loved that his dead-name is never revealed. I always feel a bit odd when it’s revealed in books, just because it always make it seems like it’s something that others should know. When in fact, it’s something that isn’t important and it shouldn’t be. Not unless the person wishes to reveal it.
Some of the writing is very repetitive, especially early on. I didn’t really like this as sometimes I felt like I was reading the same section over again.
Overall, a powerful book about identity. It covers the very real emotions and thoughts that come along with being trans.
I’m glad this book exists because I have never read anything like this. It’s powerful and honest. It shows a real insight into identity. A story about love, acceptance and understanding yourself.
I’ve been wanting to read this for so long. So many books with trans characters focus on coming out, and end not long after. I want more trans characters who are already out and living life. Not to say that this is a light read, Felix deals with transphobic abuse as he is publicly dead-named and then harrassed online.
The plot overall seemed quite simple. This seemed much more character driven than plot. Some of it was over quickly and other parts just fell quite flat for me. However, the character development through out was well done.
I’m not a huge fan of romance in books and I know this is a personal preference, however I have never read a book with a love triangle in that involves a trans character. I feel like the struggles that Felix go through are honest and raw. As a trans man, I relate to Felix a lot in the way that he feels that he is unloveable due to his identity. He both wants and doesn’t want to be loved. The fear of rejection or that no one will love you because you’re trans is a very real feeling, it’s conflicting and confusing. It’s so hard to feel like someone will love you for who you are. So many romances that involve trans characters feel like they are being fetishised instead of loved. Although, I’m not a huge fan of the catfish situation but this is probably just a personal thing.
Felix as a character is flawed, and human. He isn’t perfect and I feel like some people forget that trans people are just like cis people, no one is perfect. He is quite judgemental, and he complains about the privileges that other people have, especially his friends who go to the school because they are well off. But often forgets his own privileges. He goes to a good school, and yes, him and his dad struggle with money, but for some people the opportunities that he has are impossible. His dad helped him to get on hormones and have surgery. So at 17, Felix is already on hormones and a year post top surgery. Again, this is something that most trans people dream about. Very few people can have their parent pay for their transition, and very few people transition as a teen.
He complains about his dad occasionally dead-naming him, I do understand the frustration, however it seems like he almost resents his dad for it. But again, his dad helped him with his transition so it’s not coming from his dad not accepting him. But Felix can’t seem to see this.
Felix messes up a lot throughout the book, but he is a teenager. Some of it really annoyed me, as it seemed like he had no regards to anyone else. But he is 17 so it could just come from a place of immaturity.
But don’t get me wrong, I did really like how Felix grew throughout the book and how not everything ended up exactly perfect. Some of the things that Felix thought were important to begin with, turn out to not mean so much. Is it perfect rep, no, but no single book will ever have perfect representation. To expect that from any book is impossible, because every single person and character is different.
I loved that his dead-name is never revealed. I always feel a bit odd when it’s revealed in books, just because it always make it seems like it’s something that others should know. When in fact, it’s something that isn’t important and it shouldn’t be. Not unless the person wishes to reveal it.
Some of the writing is very repetitive, especially early on. I didn’t really like this as sometimes I felt like I was reading the same section over again.
Overall, a powerful book about identity. It covers the very real emotions and thoughts that come along with being trans.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia